Wipe 98

I sent some ink blots in for Wipe 98.

Mailed to Australia.

I know that this issue has been mailed out, however mine is yet to arrive.

Music

Envelope 597 to Rose

and envelope 682 to Jan.

A tale of two of the envelopes

Nikki H, who sent me the great MMSA favorite book card inspired by Salem's Lot, wanted to exchange mail with me outside of the swaps.

I picked out envelope 488 and paired it with two American Glass stamps. Then I reread Niki's address and realized that she lives in Canada. Oops. So this one went to Currie S, who was next in my 'reply to' pile.

And then the hunt was on for something to send to Nikki. I really didn't want to send her one of the global stamps one her first envelope from me (they have their place, but they can be monotonous) so I chose envelope 683 and two stamps with complementary blue tones. (I guess they are not complementary in a color-wheel sense, but you know what I mean).

Blue tones

Number 361 - moon sky

I sent my next potential contribution to Brain Cell in this envelope. I have to say I find the Japanese address system disorienting, and have to check the numbers multiple times.

The scanner made a mess of this envelope, so I ended up taking a photo with my cell phone - so it isn't quite rectangular. Bon voyage, my many-numbered envelope.

_________________________________________

Number 664 - revival

Sent off to Carroll, and it arrived uncanceled, an added bonus.

Envelopes 318, 322 and 334 - butterflies

#318 is another one from an old calendar featuring Japanese woodblock prints.

I liked the colors of the spicebush stamp for this envelope. I played around with the position, and ultimately liked the idea of a butterfly erupting from Mt Fuji.

______________________________

#322 is from the same calendar.

I thought the distant sheets looked a bit like butterflies. Sent to Currie in thanks for her MMSA postcard.

______________________________

#334, a classic woodblock.

Waves and butterflies: both ephemeral.

Sent to Jean.

Envelopes 421, 467 and 351

I haven't answered many mail art calls, however I liked Liberty's one for Hands and Feet.

I had this in my stack of envelopes.

And I thought it went well with all the hands on the Go Green stamps turning things.

Addressed in green, on the arm.

___________________________________

Eva also had a mail art call that I answered. Hers is for anything to do with the Wizard of Oz. I thought envelope #467 would fit the bill. 

I really wanted to fit 3 Johnny Cash stamps in the black space, but no go. In the end I really liked the effect of Johnny plus a butterfly high in the clouds.

Addressed. I colored in the black town on top of the almost-transparent label.

And the back.

This envelope also had a graphic liner effect (nothing to do with Oz, though).

I almost sent Eva this next one, as she had mentioned the farmers market stamps. Terrie's postcard was sitting right next to Eva's in the reply pile, so she received #351.

(And this is the scanner having its usual meltdown over a white edge)

I like the way the stamp is not easy to recognize immediately.

Addressed.

And the back.

Envelope 64

A bed of nails...

...and butterflies...

...for mailarteeth.

Christophe received the envelope, and described it as:

Rêve de Fakir

Elles sont fines, acérées et d'un bel acier bleuté.

Les beaux papillons bleus qui volent au dessus d'elles sont totalement insouciants, mais ils sont si légers, que pourrait-il leur arriver ?

Translates as:

Dream of the fakir

They are thin, sharp and a beautiful steel blue. 

The lovely blue butterflies flying above them are totally unconcerned, but they are so light, what could happen to them?

Sounds so much better in French!

Envelope exchange 2014: #259 to Hester

Summer Idyll by Walter Joseph Phillips.

I thought the colors on the Spicebush butterfly stamp worked well with this envelope.

And the back.

A commission

I commissioned Jean W to create a unique envelope and card for my mom's 66th birthday. This one from her blog caught my eye as something my mom would like: link.

The envelope, with suggested butterfly stamp positions. The style for the return address is genius.

This was when I naively thought that an international letter between 1 and 2 oz was 1.15 + 21. So three 66c butterfly stamps would be needed. 

To Europe, the 2nd oz is actually 98c, for a grand total of 2.13. Fortunately there was a nice space for a 4th stamp. I took this one to the post office for hand cancelling since it is a special occasion (and a very special envelope).

And the card inside:

Friends & Faux postcard 34 addition

I added my faux stamp to the F&F card. It is one of a few stamps I created with faux classic sci fi titles. My own titles were inspired by, and used the colors of, Adam McCauley's genius monster stamps. 

[Adam also has a fantastic sense of humor - check his Comix section out - these would also make amazing stamps]

Karen covered up the previous stamp with a muscle car one. Since it was not franked by the PO, I added 66c to the 49c of a forever stamp to get to the international rate of 1.15, since this one is heading to France next. Nice to have some easy options for variety when sending mail abroad.

I'm getting very interested in the whole faux stamp/artistamp aspect of mail art. And where is the Finnbadger post office located? Fauxhio, of course. I have another F&F card heading my way soon, so there'll be a future update about that.

First spontaneous mail... and art!!!

Now I know how Jean feels when someone spontaneously sends her mail art...

Hester W sent this fantastic envelope she made from a page in an (art?) book after reading my blog.

It also has this great liner sheet.

The back also ended up looking great.

But the biggest surprise of all was the art inside - I think we're both going to need some wine to nurse us through the winter storm today.

Cheers to you, Hester!

Not one of the envelopes... butterflies

I don't think the weather's any better today, and spring seems far away right now. I bought a card that came with this fun envelope - I'm not much for flowery, but, as Jean W always says, this one is full of stealable ideas. And this is my first use of the 66c butterfly stamp (the card that went in the envelope was heavily decorated). I didn't even see the design on the envelope until after I opened the packaging it came in, as it was obscured by the card.

And the back is really fun with the single ladybird.